Press Release

Ambassador Anne W. Patterson's Speech at the Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies

June 18, 2013

Good afternoon and thank you for that warm
welcome. I am so pleased to be here at
this prestigious institution. The Ibn
Khaldun Center long has been at the forefront of promoting dialogue, tolerance,
and respect for human rights in Egypt.
It has done truly remarkable work over the years, and I think it is no
exaggeration to say that the efforts of its courageous men and women have made
a positive difference in the lives of millions of your fellow citizens. I salute Executive Director Dalia Ziada for
always speaking her mind, no matter what others might think. And, of course, I wish to pay special tribute
to Ibn Khaldun Center Founder and Chairman Dr. Saad Eddin Ibrahim. More than anyone I know, Dr. Saad embodies
the history of Egypt's human rights struggle.
He is a brave man who has become a legend in his own time, and I feel
deeply honored to say that he is my friend and a friend of many Americans.

Dr. Saad asked me to speak today about the
United States government's relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood. I,
frankly, embraced this as an opportunity to set the record straight, and I look
forward to an exchange of ideas in the discussion after my remarks. I am going to provide you with facts. It is my hope that these can form the basis
of Egyptian public discussion in the future.

I have been the Ambassador to Egypt for two
years now, and I am in a position of authority to talk about my government’s
relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Our policy remains what it always has
been: the Government of the United
States of America supports Egypt, its people, and its government. The U.S. Government, which represents the interests
and desires of the American people, wants Egypt to succeed. We want Egyptians to have the same benefits
of living in a free and democratic society that we enjoy. Americans want Egyptians to have the right to
choose their leaders, to say what they think, to believe and worship as their
consciences dictate, to associate with whomever they wish, and to have fair laws
that apply equally to all, irrespective of status or wealth or social class.

And why does the United States want Egypt to
succeed? One reason, of course, is that
we believe in universal rights and values.
But America's self interest as a nation also is a key consideration. Stable democracies, particularly those that
respect civil liberties and a have a vibrant political opposition, make the
best allies. We oppose chaos. Chaos is a breeding ground for instability. Think
of countries in this region and around the world where chaos and division
dominate. Are these are countries where
America’s interests are best served? I
would argue that they are not. Now think
of democracies where civil liberties, including the rights of minorities and
women, are safeguarded. Does the United
States consider them to be good allies?
The answer is a resounding "yes." So, what kind of Egypt is in the U.S.
national interest? I can tell you
without hesitation that Egypt's success as a stable democracy where all
citizens' rights are respected is what's best for America.

Let's examine in detail my assertion that the
Government of the United States supports Egypt.
In order to do this, the U.S. Government must deal with the Egyptian
Government. This is the government that you
and your fellow citizens elected. Even
if you voted for others, I don’t think the elected nature of this government is
seriously in doubt. Throughout Egypt’s
post-revolution series of elections, the United States took the position that
we would work with whoever won elections that met international standards, and this is what we have done.

Because many in the Egyptian Government are
affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood or its Freedom and Justice Party, the
U.S. Government must work with

I know that some would counter that the U.S.
Government, specifically the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, has had contact with the
Muslim Brotherhood for more than two decades.
Is this not, they might ask, evidence of a long-term plan or conspiracy
to support the Muslim Brotherhood to replace the government of former President
Hosni Mubarak?

An understanding of how nations deal with each
other will show that I believe such speculation is groundless. Like many other countries, the United
States--in addition to dealing with the political actors running any given
government--also maintains contacts with those out of power. This is in keeping with our belief in
universal rights and values: we seek to
ensure that the diverse views of all citizens are fairly represented and that
their human rights are respected. It
also is consistent with America's self interest: today's political outcasts may be tomorrow's
leaders, and therefore it is wise to get to know them and their views. This may seem like a very simple picture
compared to the complicated scenarios proposed by some. But I think if you look at history, you will
find that the simple explanations invariably are the correct ones.

After 30 years of political repression and the
resulting lack of responsibility for making political decisions, it is
understandable that some would resort to conspiracy theories to explain what
they see and hear. But, in my view,
Egypt deserves better. Egypt deserves
citizens with open minds who are unafraid to think for themselves. This is the first step toward becoming
invested in the future, toward planning and building a new Egypt that will
surpass the old.

Some say that street action will produce better
results than elections. To be honest, my
government and I are deeply skeptical.

Egypt needs stability to get its economic house
in order, and more violence on the streets will do little more than add new
names to the lists of martyrs. Instead,
I recommend Egyptians get organized. Join
or start a political party that reflects your values and aspirations. Egyptians need to know a better path
forward. This will take time. You will have to roll up your sleeves and
work hard. Progress will be slow and you
often will feel frustrated. But there is
no other way.

Ladies and gentlemen, democracy is a means, not
an end. There is no winner, except for
the people, who have the right to choose.
They are the real power brokers, and it is your responsibility to help
them see your vision. Every day, my
colleagues and I at the U.S. Embassy meet with Egyptians from across the
political spectrum. If you belong to a
party or a trend and feel that we have overlooked your views, please tell me,
and get in touch with us. We want to get
to know you, because you never know what tomorrow may bring.

Let me end my remarks by reiterating our policy
toward Egypt: the Government of the
United States of America supports Egypt, its people, and its government. The U.S. Government, which represents the
interests and desires of the American people, wants Egypt to succeed. We want Egyptians to have the same benefits
of living in a free and democratic society that we enjoy. We want Egyptians to have the right to choose
their leaders, peacefully, to say what they think, to believe and worship as
their consciences dictate, to associate with whomever they wish, and to have
fair laws that apply equally to all, irrespective of status or wealth.

Egyptians, like Americans and other people
living in democracies everywhere, must find a way to live and pursue their
dreams together. Thank you very much for
your kind attention.

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